USA: AT&T 2G NETWORK SHUTDOWN

November 10, 2017

For our USA, Canada and Mexico markets our original Personal/Pet and Senior devices run on the GSM wireless platform and our wireless carrier is AT&T. We chose GSM so that our trackers could be used throughout most of the world and our carrier is AT&T with their vast roaming partners. The new PocketFinder+ introduces a new global carrier and is also GSM technology. AT&T has been providing us information on their 2G turn down which has already affecting most every city here in the USA. AT&T has publicly said that they have turned down all US 2G towers by Jan 2017 and we’ve seen this happen.

In Canada, our devices primarily run on the Bell and Rogers wireless networks. They have unofficially reported a transition from 2G to 3G by the end of 2018 but do not have any official information posted.

Mexico has very strong 2G wireless network coverage and they have officially said that their 2G to 3G transition is planned for 2023 or possibly later.

A resource to view current 2G GSM coverage as reported by wireless carriers in your area is the following link. SelectDATA and then select 2G ONLY: AT&T Coverage Map

Our Current Vehicle Tracker and PocketFinder+ Personal Tracker are 3G and will continue to connect after this transition in all our markets. T-Mobile has announced that they will be leaving their US 2G network in place for some time but it's important to note that the majority of T-Mobile's 2G coverage in the US was a sharing agreement with AT&T who has now removed that portion of their US network with a little more detail below under "Additional Information". Many 2G connecting GPS customers began seeing gaps in their connections with the changes as 2016 came to a close and some customers are seeing this now in Canada. Please let us know and we will be happy to assist you in ordering our 3G devices. We launched a new 3G Personal Device called PocketFinder+ in December 2016 which utilizes all three location services, GPS, Wi-Fi and Cell ID! Vehicle Trackers purchased from LBT/PocketFinder in the US after 09/01/2014 are all 3G.

Why didn’t you transition to 4G instead of 3G? What carriers call 4G is really just a faster 3G. Both 3G and 4G are based on HSPA technology and you’re set for the future with our 3G trackers. For more information on the AT&T 2G Sunset please see the 2G Sunset Primer PDF.

T-Mobile’s announcement to extend their 2G network coverage is hollow for US residents because more than two-thirds of their US 2G coverage is currently through it’s GSM partnership with AT&T meaning that two-thirds of their current US 2G coverage will be gone in January 2017.

Verizon has begun taking down 2G network for their 4G LTE in NY and Cleveland and has announced that their turn down will be complete by Jan 2021.

LBT is committed to supporting your business or family long term and making the network transitions as well as worldwide usage of our trackers as smooth as possible. Please contact a member of our support team if you have any other questions.